Category Archives: stroke

struck by a stroke

Posted on March 6, 2012 by

It’s been a funny week. Last year, every day was dominated by my mum’s stroke – either in the practical arrangements of travelling constantly to Belfast with a newborn and two children, or the emotional – the sheer pain and … Continue reading →

Posted in mothers, stroke | 3 Comments

Letters of Love

Posted on November 21, 2011 by

This weekend, when I went up to Belfast to look after my mum, my dad had left a big box in my room. I looked inside, and found my life story. The smell of age and nostalgia mingled with tissue … Continue reading →

Posted in letters, mother, stroke | 2 Comments

The bearable darkness of being

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

It’s nearly a year since my baby was born. And nearly a year since my mum had her catastrophic stroke. Undeniably the worst, saddest, most challenging, gut wrenching, heart tearing, mind wrecking year of my life. The sheer awfullness of … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, friends, stroke | 3 Comments

Family Friends

Posted on June 11, 2011 by

When you become a parent you don’t think that your children will start having an influence on who you become friends with. But they do! One of my best friends is the mum of Daisy’s best friend. How weird is … Continue reading →

Posted in children, friends, stroke | 5 Comments

Birthday love

Posted on May 20, 2011 by

Today is my mum’s birthday. As she lies locked in her body and mind in Belfast, for the first time in probably 15 years I won’t be spending the day with her. Since I had children, she would come down … Continue reading →

Posted in birthday, mum, stroke | 5 Comments

Pain and pleasure

Posted on April 24, 2011 by

We’ve just returned from our family week in Ballyvaughan in the Burren on the West Coast of Ireland. The family week we have every year with my mum and dad, my brother and his family, and me and mine. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballyvaughan, mum, stroke | 5 Comments

Lasting Firsts

Posted on February 22, 2011 by

Like everything in my life at the moment, two ends of the spectrum run in parallel – sometimes so close, the lines lie against each other, indeterminate, entwined, indistinguishable. My mum needs caring in the same way as my baby. … Continue reading →

Posted in feeding, mum, stroke | 5 Comments